South Pacific Group Build 7 August 2006 to 7 August 2007

I got a start on my Eduard P-400. The kit might look like a Tamagawa kit but it sure isn't designed like one. The plastic is a little soft and it could use a few more locator pins. The fit is a bit fussy too. Started on the cockpit. It went together with no big problems but the alignment was a but tricky. Bell used it's own shade of interior green that was darker than regular US interior green. Sources pointed to using medium green. I think it's a little light compared to the photos I have. I think Modelmaster Euro green would have been a better choice. I left off the radio and throttle quadrant 'til later. The kit came with a nose weight which should be sufficent to keep the wheel down. That had to be painted as well because it shows through the wheel well.

Next up: Wings.

 Here a couple pics of my B-25J. Me and my pop started this about 2 years ago just before he started feeling to sick. He was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after I got the kit. It was his plane he flew in out of New Guinea. He passed away on Good Friday a year ago. I put it away until now. I decided what the heck, it fits in this group build so here it is just the way we left it. Just recently I tracked down the decals for his noseart and marking thanks to acouple of very nice people in these forums ( paul_toz, Hippy-Ed, and Toother1321). Iwish I would have taken a couple pics of the interior. I'm sure there will be other B-25s in this build with interior pics. So what you see built so far was built with one of the men who actually flew in it sitting right beside me. My pop. How cool is that!!

Thanks
Zip

Hey mind if I joined this build with my

1/48 LB-30B Liberator

1/48 B-17D Flyingfortress

1/48 B-17E Flyingfortress

and possible 1/48 B-26A Marauder

The skies the limit,

VA

I Checked out my Eduard P-400 in 1/48th scale today in preparation for this build. It's a very nice kit. Just as nice as any offering from Tamiya or Hasegawa. It comes with masks and a cast nose weight. I will be building it pretty much straight out of the box with the exception of PE seatbelts. The cockpit is nicely detailed. The doors can be built open which is probably the option I will choose. The decals look really nice. I will be building my P-400 as the "Wahl Eye". A ship from the 35th FG, Twelve Mile Aerodrome, New Guinea piloted by Lt.Eugene Wahl in1942.

The P-400 was the export version of the Bell P-39 Airacobra. The aircraft was rejected by the RAF who designated it the Airacobra Mk.I. The rejected aircraft were redesignated P-400 by the USAAF. They were painted in US equivalents of RAF colors with US markings making for a very attractive paint scheme.

I will be using Sqaudrons P-39 Airacobra "in Action" & Bert Kinzey's excellent P-39 in detail and scale for reference. I have Osprey's "P-39 Aces" as well.

This should be a fun build.

Get Ready... Get Set......GO!

If you have not already done so..open 'em up and start!  I have opened the Academy 1/72 Thunderbolt and the Aires set.  I have begun marking the panels that will be chopped in order to fully display the AM details.

Still in the process of figuring out marking details, seriously considering paintin on as many as possible.

JoeRugby wrote:

No worries, Mike MKIIC! Would that be the new Hasegawa offering?

Nope, it's the Eduard kit. I had it in my stash since December and I'm itching to start it!

No worries, Mike MKIIC!

Would that be the new Hasegawa offering?

I would like to jump in on this one!

I will be building a  P-400 in 1/48th scale.

Sure!

What are you planning to build?

Joe:

Scratch my Vindicator, and please change my entry to a double entry of Hasegawa P-40E and a Hasegawa P-38F, both in 1/48. I've got a jump on some assembly for the P-40, but with vacation next week, I won't be doing the painting and final assembly until mid-August.

taxtp wrote:

Hey Mucker, Great looking Vindicator. What did you use for the blue-grey ? Cheers Tony

Sorry for the delayed response, Tony. Testors Acryl Blue-Grey was used. I've used it now on a few Navy birds, and have really like the hue.

Okay boyos...we are now under two weeks to go!

Just a couple of quick thoughts...no worries on shared builds for this one, too many good group builds and too many great subjects so why tie down so many great builders?

Please include some history on the subject you are presenting building is only part of the fun after all..

and most importantly have fun!

tho9900 wrote:

Zip - there's also another GB that would fit into in addition to this one (and both GB's have no problem with you entering the same kit in multiple GB's) The Memorial Day GB is where we are building a kit either ourselves or a relative used while a member of the armed forces.  I'm doing a B-25J for my Great Uncle who was a flight engineer/gunner with 13th AAF, 42nd BG in thePacific in WWII.  The same kit I am building is being used here and for the Memorial Day GB.

Zip

Hey Joe,

  Couple years ago I started a Monogram B-25J. I was building it for my pop. He flew in one in New Guinea with the 5th 501st BS. I was trying to find his decal sheet. His plane was "Little Thumper". I've seen it out there but every lead I get leads to a dead end. My pop past away last Easter so I lost interest in it. They other day I ran across it in my stash and I thought this would be perfect for this GB. So if I can track down his decal sheet I would like to model my pop's B-25J for my build. If I can't I will build either a Tamiya A6M2 or a Revell P-38J Lightning.

thanks

Zip

P.S. If anyone can help me locate this decal sheet I would greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

JoeRugby wrote:

No worries on the early start Tom... Speaking of starting...TICK TOCK goes the clock!

Joe - that's ok... the class I am in this week has precluded any modeling... so by force or by farce I have stopped production!  haha....

No worries on the early start Tom...

Speaking of starting...TICK TOCK goes the clock! 

oops I just realized this one doesn't start till the 7th of aug... I already folded a few ammo boxes on the PE for my kit... am I damned to an eternal hell of Lindbergh kits and the tiny bottles of Testors paints now? 

I'll have to put it away so I'm not tempted again...

tho9900 wrote:

oleander - I'd be interested in how that kit built up... it looks good, and I've been thinking about buying it but something always holds me back....

I'd be happy to post photos and let you know how this build goes.  I'll try to get some photos of the kit contents in the next couple days if you'd like (have to borrow a camera from the fiance)